PAW PAW, MI -- Adequate rainfall early and through the growing season has left fields lush, and cornstalks a little taller than usual.

There was no evidence of green snap in this field on Ravine Road outside of Otsego.Rosemary Parker/Kalamazoo Gazette

But those tall stalks, which grew so fast because of the adequate moisture and heat, are a bit on the weak side, said Bruce MacKellar, Michigan State University Extension field crop educator.

"Heavy thunderstorm winds can cause a problem known as "green snap,"where the stalk breaks off instead of bending over," MacKellar said. "Some fields irrigated with traveling guns were also experiencing this situation from the force of the water out at the edge of the irrigation sprinkler pattern."

A return to cooler, more normal temperatures, and good growing conditions will help improve stalk strength over the next couple of weeks, he predicted.

In general, MacKellar said, Southwest Michigan's field crops are progressing very quickly with the heat. Pollination, which is the most critical period where drought stress can reduce yields, was in full swing last week for corn planted in early May, which may may cause some concerns in those areas where fields were "a little drier than we would have liked," he said.

Also, the high heat of last week may also have potentially damaged some silks, which can lead to incomplete kernel formation on the developing ears. "This week," he said,"we are in full pollination for fields planted about the second week in May.

Ears are developing kernels now.Rosemary Parker/Kalamazoo Gazette

Soybean growth and development has been helped by the warm temperatures, especially at night, MacKellar said, and early planted beans are setting lower pods now, later planted soybeans are flowering.

The rest of the season will depend on the mix of sunsine and water available tot he growing fields, MacKellar said.

" I often make the analogy that if CO2 and sunshine are the fuel, water is the throttle when it comes to crop growth and development. Without enough of it, the plant has to take it's foot off of the gas, slowing growth rates and potential yields. "